I'm 43 years old, and since at least early adulthood (and maybe before), I've had not infrequent headaches. I'd pop an analgesic and all was well. They often would occur on the left side of my head, although not always. If I had to guess what triggered them, I'd say driving fairly long distances (over an hour), visiting the in-laws ;-) , or staring at a computer for too long. They generally were in the 4-5 range on the pain scale. I didn't really give them much thought.
In May of last year, I had about a week of little aches on the sides of my head on which I was lying. So, if I was lying on my left side, I'd feel I little ache on that side, and the same thing for lying on my right side. Well, that concerned me, so I called to make an appointment for a physical, which I hadn't had for a few years, at which time I could discuss the headaches. The earliest appointment I could get was for July. By the time July came around, those aches were gone, and the regular headaches resumed their occasional-up-to-a-few-times-a-week status, so I didn't even mention them.
I had another couple weeks of everyday headaches last October and went to the doctor. She thought they might be tension headaches and prescribed Flexeril to take at night. After a few nights, the headaches dissipated back to their occasional status.
I had some headaches this past February but also noticed feelings of lightheadedness that generally were not concurrent with a headache. Back to the doc, who wanted to make sure that I didn't have any vascular issues that would cause my brain not to have sufficient oxygen. Off to the cardiologist I went, only to discover that, heartwise, I'm in great shape. Shortly after that, the lightheadedness tapered off, and I was back in whatever business I was in before.
So...this past May, back come the daily headaches--again, mild to moderate, no auras, no nausea, no vomiting--back to the doc, and then to a neurologist. At this point, I was getting somewhat concerned, made the *huge* mistake of consulting Dr. Google, and then became *really* concerned. I mean, all these headaches could only mean brain tumor, right? I knew I didn't have migraines, they didn't have the characteristics of tension headaches, and didn't seem to fit more exotic causes.
Well, the neuro asked me about my headache history, poked, prodded, pushed, pulled, and hammered me (with that little reflex-testing-hammer thingy) through a neurology exam, and proclaimed his diagnosis--migraines.
Really? But I thought only women get migraines? My wife gets them, auras and all, but I'm not a woman and I don't have visual disturbances. He stuck with his diagnosis and asked me if I'd be willing to try medication. I wanted to know the side effects because I really never felt debilitated by the headaches and wasn't willing to have medication-induced unpleasantness replace discomfort. Well, we talked about Topamax, I agreed, and I was set up (by my GP) for an MRI.
I'll cut out some details except to say that, between the neuro exam and MRI, I pretty much freaked out. Don't know if was the med, my own anxiety, or a combo, but I really felt a sense of doom. The MRI, however, came back clean except for some vascular changes that my neuro initially said could be due to migraines but later said were within "normal." Anyway, I was relieved! And I immediately stopped the Topamax (with the neuro's consent). Although I had only taken it for five or six nights, the headaches did seem to be milder than usual.
I was looking for a way to deal with mild migraines, if that's what they are, and decided to try biofeedback. I went to my first appointment a couple of weeks ago, and the therapist hooked me up to a computer and said that my neck and upper back muscles on the right side were slacking off and forcing the left side muscles do the work. This would explain the left side headaches. I'm still early in the biofeedback game, so we'll wait to see how well it works.
Now last week, I had some pretty long headaches, one of which made it up to a six on the pain scale. I decided to try the Topamax again, and so far, I've had fewer side effects. However, I'm beginning to get really anxious again about the possibility of of tumor. It was done without contrast because the insurance company wouldn't pay for it (sheesh, I should have just shelled out the extra $$ myself). The neurologist didn't comment on the fact that it was done without contrast. In fact, because I was so freaked out, I drove to his office directly from the MRI place, CD of images in hand, and dropped it off for his review so I wouldn't have to wait for the radiologist's report. I have another follow-up appointment this Friday and really need to determine whether contrast makes much of a difference in diagnosing primary brain tumor.
I'm still puzzled about the diagnosis, though. Are these really migraines? Sometimes I'll get a localized ache for seconds, minutes, or occasionally longer, but they feel more like spasms rather than a solid, constant ache (although I'll get that, too). They come and go. They're usually not that bad. It's usually not particularly throbbing or pulsatile, but it will increase with head and body movements and changes in position. Sometimes, like now, it feels more like a tension headache in the back and side of my head. Sometimes they start for no apparent reason. Sometimes they start after moving. Sometimes I wake up with them (not usually), sometimes I'll have them in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes in the evening. It just doesn't *sound* like migraines that one hears about from friends or sees on commercials. My posture is bad, and I'll work on that as maybe the head forward posture and rounded shoulders are contributing. Basically, I'd like to ways to reduce or eliminate the need for meds, especially the heavy-duty ones, if possible.
Anyway, I'd appreciate any comments from migraineurs or doctors about whether the diagnosis seems consistent with your experience and whether my anxiety about the non-contrast MRI missing something significant is unjustified. I have a feeling that even if I wanted to have a second one, with contrast, the neuro would have a hard time justifying it without some major symptom changes, and I don't know if that much has changed since I last spoke with him (other than the fact that I seem to be feeling more pressure changes from exertion, head, or body movement).
Thanks!